Ignition device.



Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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WITNESSES:

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THOMAS JJLOFTUS, OE CASTELLA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T HARMON BELL, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

IGNITION. DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24,1914.

Application filed November 16, 1912. Serial No. 731,746.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Lor'rns, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Gas.

tella, in the county of Shasta and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ignition Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an ignition device, and particularly pertains to an ignition device which is especially adapted for use on rotary fluid motors of the type disclosed in my co-pending application filed September 5, 1911, Serial Number 647,550.

It is the object of this invention to provide an ignition device which is controlled by the rotatable elements of a rotary fluid motor, and which is adapted to ignite an explosive mixture in either of several compression chambers, according to the direction of rotation of the motor.

Another object is to provide an ignition device which is simple in construction and operation and which is capable of being actuated athigh speed.

The invention primarily resides in a spring arm carrying a pair of contact members on opposite sides thereof, spark plugs positioned in the path of travel of the contact members, and a revoluble star wheel adapted to actuate the spring arm to rapidly make and break a circuit with one spark plug, when rotated in one direction, and with the other spark plug when rotated in the other direction.

The invention also comprises details of construction which will be more fully ex plained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rotary motor, with parts broken away, showing the invention as applied. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal section on the line XX of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the spark timer. I

Inthe drawings I have shown a rotary motor for the purpose of illustrating the application of the invention, in which A represents a cylindrical casing closed on one end by means of a plate 2. A shaft extends into the casing A and has a plate in which a series of fan blades 3 is formed, rigidly mounted on its inner end. An internally toothed gear 4 is attached to the plate in such a manner-that the shaft and the plate will be rotated when the gear 4 is revolved.

A pair of pinions 5, revolubly mounted on suitable shafts 6 supported in hubs formed on the cover 2, mesh with the gear 1 on diametrically opposite sides thereof. The pinions 5 are designed to rotate their shafts (J, and rigidly mounted on the outer end of each shaft 6 is a star wheel 7 which has teeth corresponding in number to the teeth on the pinions 5. The teeth of the star wheels 7 are designed to actuate a normally vertical plate spring 8, one end of which is rigidly mounted on the outer face of the end plate 2, with the other end extendingbetween the teeth of the star wheel 7.

The springs 8 are electrically connected to one pole of any suitable source of electrical energy, such as a battery, indicated at B, through a conductor 9, and mounted on opposite sides of the springs and extending some distance thercbeyond, are contact plates 10 and 10, which are dcsignedto make and break contacts with terminals in a pair of spark plugs 11 and 11, the other terminals of which are connected with the other terminals of the battery B through a conductor 12.

The spark plugs 11 and 11 are mounted in the end plate 2 and extend thercthrough at a point adjacent to the outer ends of the teeth on the pinions 5, where the latter mesh with the teeth of the internal gear 4. A pair of the spark plugs 11 is provided adjacent to each pinion 5 and extends through the end plate 2 on each. side of the pinion, as shownin Fig. 2; the sparking points of the plugs being arranged so as to be opposite the space between the teeth of the pinion 5, which are partly in mesh with the teeth on the gear 4..

Means are provided in the motor for feed.

ing explosive gases between each oi. the pinions 5 and the gear a in such a manner as to be carried forward as the gear and pinions revolve, and be compressed in the spaces between the teeth thereof, which means conoi needle valves liland' 12 which are mounted on the end plate to one side of each of the spark plugs 11 and 11 respectively and are connected by conduits 13 and 13' to any suitable source of gas supply under pressure.

In the operation of the invention, a pair of the needle valves 12 or 12' is opened so as to permit explosive gases to flow into the space between the pinions 5 and the gear 4:,

at the point where the teeth of the former are about to traverse into mesh with the teeth of the latter, in such manner that, as the gear 4: and pinions 5 revolve, the gases will be compressed between the intermeshing teeth. The moment the teeth of the pinions 5 have passed the center and are about to leave the teeth of the gear 4%, the star wheels 7 act on the springs 8 so as to cause the contact 10 to make and break contact with the spark plug 11, which acts to cause a spark to jump the gap on the inner end of the spark plug in the usual manner. This spark ignites the compressed gases between the teeth. of the pinions 5 and gear l at a point indicated at a. The expansion of the exploding gas acts to drive the pinions 5 and the gear a ahead in the direction indicated by the arrows Z) in Fig. l; the movement of the gear a being transmitted to the drive'shatt through the plate carrying the blades 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, as the gear 4 is advanced, there will be a charge of the explosive gas compressed in each space between the teeth of the gear, and that the compressed charges will be successively exploded at the point a, as before described; the star wheel 7 acting on the spring 8 in such manner as to cause the ignition of the gases at this point through the spark plugs 11.

In the application of the invention here disclosed I have shown a pair of pinions 5 and star wheels 7. It is manifest, however, that the gear i could be rotated in the man ner described by the use of a single pinion and star wheel, or by the employment of any number of pinions and star wheels ar ranged equally distant apart around the interior of the gear i. In any event, a pair of spark plugs 11 and 11 and feed valves 12 and 12 will be arranged adjacent to a pinion 5, as shown in Fig. 2; the needle valve 12 on one side of the pinion and the spark plug 11. on the other side of the pinion 5 being employed when it is desired to rotate the gear 4 in the direction of the arrow 7), Fig. 1. The valve 12 and the spark plug 11 are not in operation when the gear 4: is rotated as just described, but when it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the gear 4%, the valve 12 is closed and the valve 19/ is opened so as to direct the explosive gases to the opposite side of the pinions 5. The reversal of the direction of ro-- tation of the pinions 5 reverses the direction of rotation of the star wheels 7; this reversal acting on the springs 8 in such manner that the contacts 10 will act on the spark plug 11 to explode the gases on the opposite side of the pinions 5, in which case the spark plugs 11 will be out of commission.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In combination with a rotatable toothed member and a spur gear the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of said member, a star wheel connected to said gear to rotate in unison therewith, said star wheel having the .same number of teeth as said gear, a spark plug disposed adjacent to the one of the points of mesh of the teeth of said member and gear, and a spring arm actuated by the star wheel to contact with said spark plug.

2. In combination with a pair of rotatable int rgeared elements, a pair of spaced spark plugs disposed adjacent to points of contact between said elements, aspring arm arranged in the space between said plugs, and a star wheel connected to one of said elements to rotate therewith for actuating the arm to move same in engagement with but one of said plugs when said element moves in one direction and for actuating the arm to move same in engagement with the other plug when the said element moves in the opposite direction.

In combination with a pair of rotatable elements, a pair of spark plugs arranged in spaced relation on opposite sides of one of said elements, a contact member arranged in the space between said plugs and movable to engage either of the plugs, and means rotatable with one of said elements for moving said member to engage one of the plugs when said element rotates in one direction and for moving said member to engage the other plug when said element rotates in'the opposite direction.

In combination with a pair of juxtaposed rotatable elements, a spark plug disposed adjacent to the point of juxtaposition of said elements, a contact memberto ensaid plug, and means in rigid connection with one of said elements to rotate therewith for intermittently oscillating said contact member to move the latter into and out of engagement with the plug.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. LOFTUS.

lNitnesses H. O. Wronns,

C. F. HAMILTON.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, I

Washington. 1). IE. 

